Elmo and child looking at a lake.

How to Talk to Kids about Tough Topics

Caring adults can help kids learn coping and resilience-building techniques to help them face tough challenges like divorce, foster care, grief, and more.

Featured Topics

Explore these topics for tons of resources that help kids (and parents!)

A woman in a children's library reading to Elmo and a child.

Displacement and Resettlement

Families resettling after conflict or crisis cope with big changes and challenges. They can use our resources for support.

Rostia hugging child.

Traumatic Experiences

Traumatic experiences like poverty or hunger can hold back children in critical ways. Caring adults hold the power to help.

Gabrielle hugging a small child

Grief

Help kids grieve the loss of a loved one. With love and support, children can learn to cope with loss and start to heal.

Topics and Sub Topics

Explore all of our topics and subtopics to find the resources you need.

A child and their parent blowing bubbles

Divorce

Separation or divorce means lots of changes, but love, comfort, and care can help children adjust and cope with family trauma.

A handful of emergency supplies that include a lantern, flashlight, wind-up radio, batteries, and a first-aid kit.

Emergencies

Your family can gather supplies to build an emergency kit and prepare for emergencies in many other easy ways.

A smiling young girl high fives a father figure.

Foster Care

As an adult involved in foster care, you have a big job: rebuilding family structures and children’s sense of safety and personal stability.

Gabrielle hugging a small child

Grief

Help kids grieve the loss of a loved one. With love and support, children can learn to cope with loss and start to heal.

Nina gives Elmo and Lily a big hug.

Homelessness

Losing a home brings enormous challenges, but families are strong and, with the right support, can build a better future.

A visibly upset Alex is comforted by grown-up, Abby Cadabby, and Rosita.

Incarceration

A caring adult’s love and support can help children cope with the absence of an incarcerated family member.

A young boy plays on a tablet with his parents and with Elmo.

Military Caregiving

When a loved one needs extra support and home care assistance, it can mean big adjustments for everyone in the family. These resources can help!

A little girl sitting on a park bench with the Sesame Street character Karli.

Parental Addiction

Resources and support for families struggling with a parent’s addiction.

A woman in a children's library reading to Elmo and a child.

Displacement and Resettlement

Families resettling after conflict or crisis cope with big changes and challenges. They can use our resources for support.

An adult holds a child in a comforting embrace.

Resources in Ukrainian

Матеріали українською.

Parents reading to Elmo and their two kids in a library.

Resources in Pashto

Resettling after conflict or crisis can be a long, challenging process. Families can use our resources in Pashto for support.

An adult holds a baby and poses with two other children and Elmo.

Resources in Dari

Resettling after conflict or crisis can be a long, challenging process. Families can use our resources in Dari for support.

Rostia hugging child.

Traumatic Experiences

Traumatic experiences like poverty or hunger can hold back children in critical ways. Caring adults hold the power to help.

Multiple candles lit depicting a vigil.

Violence

Whether children are directly or indirectly exposed to violent events, there are ways to help them feel safer and more secure.

Rosita at a picnic with a family.

We’d love to keep you posted on the Workshop.